FOCHTA Celebrates its 13th Anniversary in February 2016
FOCHTA is this month celebrating its thirteenth anniversary. Since its inception in 2003, we have made a deep inroad into promoting education in the local community and beyond in Malawi. This is through untiring efforts b our co-founders Steven Labana (the current charman of the Board of Trustees), Dr Leopold Buhendwa and Claude Ho from Australia (Patron and Board Member) as well as our board members, grassroots members and staff over the years.
The fact that there are former student beneficiaries working in different fields is a testimony that we have got our mission right, this being to promote literacy and education. We now have university graduates working as:
Secondary school teacher - Dyton Liphale (he is also now about to complete his master degree in Social Science), Statistician - Clara Lemani, (obtaining a master degree in Cape Town University). Social welfare officer - Amadu Bwanali, Physiotherapist - Aaron Mwafulirwa, Midwife nurse - Brenda Jeremia, Agriculturist - Wilson Saikonde, Irrigation Engineer - Austin Kimbalame, now working as headteacher in our vocational training centre, Agronomist - James Mphaya, Midwife nurse - Keith Mwithiwa.
We have also supported in total 54 students to study certificated and diploma courses in technical colleges. Of those graduated, there are in the community and beyond : 1 animal health & production officer, 1 nurse, 2 clinical medicine officers, 2 medical assiststants, 1 car mechanic, 1 journalist, 4 community development officers, 2 primary school administrators, 24 primary school teachers, 2 policemen, 12 electricians, 2 welders, 5 tailors, 1 accountant, 1 driver. In all, we have supported 1984 students to study in secondary schools and 20 to study in universities.
Our ongoing program to promote literacy is to establish libraries all over the Thyolo District. Four have been established, and a fifth one is now being built. This program is supported by literacy workshops that we conduct on a regular basis.
To help girls and women of all ages, we run a Girls Initiative Program that empowers girls to think independently and to counsel them in problems that they may face.
To give more future job opportunities for young people, in November 2015, we opened a vocational training centre. Courses to run include IT, agriculture, tailoring, carpentry, accounting, welding and cookery. In addition, short courses in Homecraft such as cookery and knitting will start in March this year.
Apart from promoting literacy, we also run a program for widowed grandmothers or “gogoz”. We provide them with some business opportunities such as by giving them goats and beehives. This allows them to have the means to support their orphaned grandchildren. So far, we have supported over 200 gogoz.
All our works have been made possible through diligence by our very competent staff and by generous donations from friends overseas.